The "What are you playing?" topic.

[naut]

Crusader Kings as Napoli.

[frogbeastegg]

I've gotten hooked on Toy Soldiers, an xbox live arcade exclusive WWI trench defence game. I'm very surprised I liked it - I don't like tower defence games, don't care for the setting, and completely distrust any game which bases itself around toys thanks to 99% of such games being dreadful. By the end of the demo I knew I had to buy it.

Each level takes place inside one of those old fashioned toy boxes where you open up the lid to find a scale model of a battlefield to arrange your soldiers on, complete with buildings, trenches and sandbags. If you swing the camera to the right angle you can see the 1920's decorated room outside of the box. You need to prevent the enemy from reaching your base. Each level has a set variety of emplacements and they come in two flavours: large (can take anything) and small (machine guns, chemical, mortar only). You can also lay down barbed wire. The soldiers themselves are fairly detailed reproductions of period units. The attacks come in waves and you always have a vague idea of what type of enemy that wave will consist of; the indicator only shows the predominant unit type though, and most waves will contain a mix of cavalry, vehicles, planes, infantry and/or elite infantry. Each attack starts with a flare being launched, the siren going off and the enemy swarming out from their trenches or driving down a road onto the field. Every few levels the final wave contains a boss as the enemy gathers enough pocket money to throw something like a giant (clockwork powered, natch) tank or a zeppelin at you.

You can fly fighters and bombers and drive tanks on levels where they are available, and take personal control over any of the fixed emplacements at any time. Yes, that means you can hop in your Sopworth to take on the Red Baron, peer down the scope of a sniper rifle or man a machine gun as the hordes go over the top. Units can be upgraded on the fly and gain different abilities. A level 1 machine gun can put out a stream of lead and is the most effective against basic infantry. A level 2 needs to reload much more frequently but fires a larger calibre of bullet which is more effective against cavalry. A level 3 machine gun gains minor effectiveness against vehicles. Units can be repaired when damaged or sold if you want to use the emplacement for something else.

You initially play as the British during the fairly lengthy original campaign. Once that's completed you open up campaign+ where you play as the Germans. There's also a survival mode, and 4 difficulty levels. Levels can be replayed at any time once you have unlocked them, and you will be able to use any unit you have gained from the campaign so it's possible to take advanced gear into the earlier levels for a better score and some payback. There's local and internet multiplayer if you're into that. There's a bundle of pointless yet fun doodads to unlock by fulfilling bonus objectives in each mission.

It's a polished production oozing attention to detail. There's period songs, and wobbly old grainy movies with the classic silent movie style border and subtitles. All loading screens are designed to look like the box of classic toy solider sets. Historical quotes are scattered here and there. The visuals are excellent for a downloadable game.

[Secura]

I've gotten hooked on Toy Soldiers, an xbox live arcade exclusive WWI trench defence game.

Ahhhhh, I believe I saw that game on Inside X-Box... it looked pretty decent; nice sharp graphics, yet simplistic and easy to get into. I'm a bit of a history buff, so anything remotely historical piques my curiousity, but I'm really fussy about what sort of games I play... I'm glad there's a demo, will check that out soon as possible.

Is there a Co-Op mode? Or at least, split-screen multiplayer? :3

[Meneldil]

Playing Mass Effect 1 (I know, I'm late). While the game is overall pretty awesome, I just can't stand the Mako. It's fun the first 5 times, it is incredibly tedious when you're exploring the 25th planet. If at least the planets weren't all randomly mountainous, it'd be bearable, but as it is now, it is the biggest let down ever. Climbing dozens and dozens of mountains (or finding a way around when you're unlucky) gets on my nerve. I finished all assignements, which means I'm done with all this, but I'm seriously considering not going through the game anymore just because of this. I really wanted to at first, but I won't be able to go through 15 hours of Mako-ing.

Also playing EU3:HttT, as Burgundy. After many failed attempts, I finally managed to get France down to 6 provinces (and more importantly, no one else to conquer). Alas, while doing so, I let the English grow out of hand (he owns a large part of southern France), and unlike the french, I can't take his capitol and invade his lands.

Finally, I'm trying, I'm really trying to get interested into Swords of the Stars, but meh. It just doesn't happen. I play the game, click "End turn" every 45 seconds, I am puzzled everytime I have to fight a battle. Pity, cause the game looks interesting. There's just something I don't get.

[Hooahguy]

im currently on the 3rd mission of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.
so far, its a blast. it is so frustrating, and yet so rewarding playing this game. sneaking around is very cool, especially with the sound and light meters.
using all the gadgets, the cool moves, the heartpounding stealth gameplay, all sums up to an awesome game. not to be missed. its $10 on steam, very worth it.

[Azathoth]

Hehe, the free saving in Chaos Theory was a godsend. Play Pandora Tomorrow or the original and then come back and tell me about frustrating.

[Hooahguy]

the problem is that theres no checkpoint system, so if you forget and die you are in huge trouble.
also, you can only have one save at a time, so you cant go back 2 saves if you need to.

[frogbeastegg]

Ahhhhh, I believe I saw that game on Inside X-Box... it looked pretty decent; nice sharp graphics, yet simplistic and easy to get into. I'm a bit of a history buff, so anything remotely historical piques my curiousity, but I'm really fussy about what sort of games I play... I'm glad there's a demo, will check that out soon as possible.

Is there a Co-Op mode? Or at least, split-screen multiplayer? :3

There's split screen versus and online versus. The game's designed around only 2 sides on the battlefield so co-op wouldn't mesh too well with that.

[Beskar]

Playing FF13, so far so good. I heard people whine about it, all I can think is that they have ADHD. The game like FF8 (only other FF game I played) has a lot of story elements etc, and the game is meant to be very story based in the beginning to introduce you to the characters and storyline. So unless you not interested in storylines, etc, you obviously make a pass at the game.

[Hooahguy]

right now im deeply entrenched in Battlefield Bad Company 2
the single player is short, but sweet.
the multiplayer is the best ive seens so far, much better than COD4.
you actually need to use strategy when you play, not just blatant run and gun.

[Meneldil]

Playing FF13, so far so good. I heard people whine about it, all I can think is that they have ADHD. The game like FF8 (only other FF game I played) has a lot of story elements etc, and the game is meant to be very story based in the beginning to introduce you to the characters and storyline. So unless you not interested in storylines, etc, you obviously make a pass at the game.

The Final Fantasy series lost its charm with the PS2. All FF since FF10 then have ranged between "meh" and "terribad". Having played FF13 for a few hours, it goes into the "terribad" category so far.

And that's coming from a dude who refused to hear anything about the Playstation, played FF7 and then ran to the nearest store to buy a PS and the game. A guy who finished FF6, 7, 8 and 9 half a dozen time. A guy who who bought FFX-2 despite the terrible reviews.

Hopefully FF13 Versus will have a more FF7ish tone to it, though I think will still end up as a running fest throughout an endless corridor. And I expect the characters to look retard too. Japanese scifi was bearable in FF8 cause of the poor graphics. It burnt my eyes with FF10 and 12.

Edit:
Still playing ME1, on hardcore. Oddly, I find this playthrough easier than the first one. I had to get used to the whole "take cover and use biotics" part of the game at the beginning, but now I reached the point where I simply fend off waves after waves of Geth and husks. I still go down quickly if I get hit, but it rarely happens. Except if it is significantly harder, I except to breeze through Insanity just as quickly, by using a balanced team.

[Beskar]

The Final Fantasy series lost its charm with the PS2. All FF since FF10 then have ranged between "meh" and "terribad". Having played FF13 for a few hours, it goes into the "terribad" category so far.

It is no where near terribad. I played 11 hours so far. yes, it is very storybased, but that is that, it is very storybased. If you like pretty much interactive stories, then it is ok. If you want Dragon Age Open-ended RPG, then you are definitely in the wrong game. As for it being very linear at the start, it is, but it is not that bad.

I have a few qwerks with the story, but as I get past the mile-stone, where it apparently goes open-ended, should be fine. So far the game hasn't "lost my attention".

[johnhughthom]

FF8 (only other FF game I played)

Good choice, my fav FF game. Much better than 7 in my opinion. Haven't played any since 10, I know the games were always very linear, but why did they have to take away the illusion of some sort of freedom in the game?

[Secura]

Playing FF13, so far so good. I heard people whine about it, all I can think is that they have ADHD. The game like FF8 (only other FF game I played) has a lot of story elements etc, and the game is meant to be very story based in the beginning to introduce you to the characters and storyline. So unless you not interested in storylines, etc, you obviously make a pass at the game.

You bought Final Fantasy XIII? Or was it a gift for your birthday? I didn't know you had it; I assume it's for 360, as you don't own a PS3.

SquareEnix should be pleased; this is the first game Beskie has bought for his 360 in a very, very long time. I'm the console advocate, he's more of a PC gamer. :P

Good choice, my fav FF game. Much better than 7 in my opinion. Haven't played any since 10, I know the games were always very linear, but why did they have to take away the illusion of some sort of freedom in the game?

FFVIII is my favourite too; massive graphical step-up from VII, more likeable and realistic characters (compare Tifa to Rinoa, Cloud to Squall) and the Guardian Force system. Loved every moment of it. :3